In an exclusive interview, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) tells Ask a Pol, while UFOs aren’t the talk of the town in her Bronx district, she attended the House Oversight Committee’s UFO hearing because it overlaps with her efforts to reign in the military industrial complex.
“Probably less so in my district, but I do believe that there are intersections here that are very relevant to work that I’ve done, particularly, around defense contracting and transparency from the Pentagon,” AOC told Ask a Pol as she was walking back to her office after leaving the UFO hearing. “We have had many, many, many issues regarding that, and I think it extends across many different subjects.”
When we asked her what’s next, Ocasio-Cortez said it, basically, depends on two things: Oversight Chair James Comer and the public.
A classified hearing with UFO whistleblower David Grusch “would be a potential next step for the committee,” AOC says, “if we have support from the chairman.”
Always an organizer at heart, AOC says there’s one surefire way to overcome potential resistance from Comer, Speaker Kevin McCarthy or other GOP powerplayers, including those who Reps. Tim Burchett (R-TN) and Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) say put up roadblock after roadblock leading up to the hearing.
“I think that ultimately comes down to politics. I think it’s important for everyday people to weigh in on their support, even if it’s in a closed setting,” AOC told Ask a Pol. “If people want that follow-up, I think it’s important that they express that.”
Below find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, slightly edited for clarity.
Matt Laslo: “Hey congresswoman, wanted to ask you what you thought of the hearing?”
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: “I think that it’s important for us to have these public forums around the topic that has been important to a lot of Americans.”
ML: “Do you hear about this from constituents? Maybe less so in your district?”
AOC: “Probably less so in my district, but I do believe that there are intersections here that are very relevant to work that I’ve done, particularly, around defense contracting and transparency from the Pentagon. We have had many, many, many issues regarding that, and I think it extends across many different subjects.”
ML: “Did you glean anything from this? Cause it seems like a lot of it they’re saying it has to be in classified settings.”
AOC: “Right. I would imagine that would be a potential next step for the committee, if we have support from the chairman.”
ML: “I was just talking to him—the reason why I’m sweating, chasing him to a car—he seems ambivalent to…?”
AOC: “Yeah. I think that ultimately comes down to politics. I think it’s important for everyday people to weigh it on their support, even if it’s in a closed setting. If people want that follow-up, I think it’s important that they express that.”
ML: “Appreciate ya.”
Matt Laslo is a veteran congressional correspondent and founder of Ask a Pol—Washington’s new people-powered press corps. Find him on most social media @MattLaslo.
We’re @Ask_a_Pol or @askpols on Insta.
Camila Aponte and Noah Kolenda contributed to the production of this transcript. Take typos up with Congress (and ping us, please! Our apologies in advance).
EXCLUSIVE—AOC: If you want more UFO hearings, let Oversight Chair Comer know